As the Consumer Electronics Show celebrates its 50th year, it is easier than ever to spot the grandees of the electronics world.

CES Day One

CES Day One

A newly-introduced colour coded badge system separates attendees based on the number of years they have visited the auspicious technology event – with many boasting over 20 years treading the conference’s hallowed halls.

This ability for conference attendants to connect with fellow attendees at a glance is echoed in the technology that is being heralded as the most innovative for retailers and most convenient for shoppers this year, as connectivity quickly established itself as one of the conference’s buzzwords.

Smart home innovations

When US television channel HGTV’s technology correspondent Carley Knobloch was asked what smart home technology stood out to her, she said: “The companies that stand out do so by listening to their consumers and being really interested in how they live.

“That’s how technology is widely adopted and well-loved by people who aren’t technology enthusiasts.”

Technology that allows consumers to see who was at their front door via their smartphone was the most popular smart home innovation for consumers, with energy monitoring and light automation close behind.

A retail opportunity

However, there is clearly a knowledge gap for consumers who know this technology could make their lives easier but want to be shown how.

According to a survey of 20,000 US shoppers from HGTV owner Scripps Network, 56% said having a trusted consultant when installing smart home technology was very or extremely important, with 32% falling into the latter camp.

This presents a real opportunity for bricks-and-mortar electricals retailers, which are in the unique position to be able to demonstrate technology to shoppers in-store while providing a delivery and installation proposition that brings an item from the shop floor to a customer’s home.

More retailers are tapping into this trend.

Apple runs in-store technology demos, John Lewis’ has a smart home technology area in its London flagship while Dixons Carphone boss Seb James describes its KnowHow technology support arm as a “billion pound opportunity”.

While it is still relatively early days for smart home technology, it is clearly a trend that has caught the shoppers’ imagination.

The next step is to bridge the knowledge gap; dialling up curiosity about a smart home product to a genuine desire to have one at home.

Electricals retailers are in an ideal position to help shoppers make that leap.